Stay mount for head covering



Aug. 20, 1957 M. B. STEVENS STAY MOUNT FOR HEAD COVERING Filed July 20,1955 INVENTOR.

B. S Lei 1215 United States Patent STAY MOUNT non HEAD COVERING Myron B.Stevens, Bethesda, Md., assignor to the United States of America asrepresented by the Secretary of the Army Application July 29, 1955,Serial No. 523,393

16 Claims. (Cl. 2-195) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), see.266) The invention. described herein, if patented, may be manufacturedandused by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without thepayment to me of any royalty thereon.

Mylinvention relates to head coverings and more particularly. tolightweight coverings which are intended to be'worn in warmweatherandwhich. include stays to space the crown of the covering fr omthe head of the wearer. A typical head covering of this general type idisclosed in the patent to .Ob'errender, No. 2,701,366, dated February8, 1955,. There, as in most devices of this type, the stays areper-manently secured in place and cannot readily be removedforreplacement. Also, although the stays normally will outwear the headcovering material they are doomed todestruction whenever the headcovering wears out. Likewise, if the wearer has several replacement headcoveringstorwear while one is being laundered, each must:have its ownstays. Hence, it is clear that it is highly desirable to provide readilyremovable stays and the simplest manner of so doingis to provide staypockets which are'open at the upper end as in the points of lightweightshirt collars. However, if such pockets are formed in the side pieceofahead covering and extend the entire height thereof, there is realdifiiculty in applying and removingv the stayswithout distorting or'even damaging the head covering, the stays, the pockets, or all three.If the pockets are of less height than the side piece was to permitsubstantial portions to project outwardly thereof they are too:.readilyremovable and tend to fall out accidental-1y.

The device'isintended as an improvement over the. in

ventionof losephzDeGraziafiled concurrently herewith, Serial No.523,394.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of my invention-to providean improved head covering of the class described.

A further objectis to provide improved stay pocketproviding means forsuch a head covering.

A further object is to provide an improved stay-pocket providingmeanswhich is secured to'the head covering for staying use in: anupside.downposition.

A further object is to provide an improved stay peck-etprovidingmeans-W-hich is-located in an inverted position on a sidepanelof a head covering adjacent the crown panel and wherein holdingmeans adjacent the lower edge ofthe sidepanel retains one or more staysin the invertedpocket-providing means;

A further object is to provide novel means for forming such an: inverted:pocket, which means provides spaced vents for the head covering.

Other-objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of theinvention, the-structure and design of the several elements thereof,combinations and sub-combine tion of-said elementszwith each other withahead. covering -all of which willbe readily apparent to those Skilled inthe art upon" reference to the attached drawing;

Patented Aug. 20, 1957 2 in-connection with the following specificationwherein the invention is shown, described and claimed.

In the-drawing:

Figure Us a longitudinal vertical sectional view'through aheadcoveringto which one form of the invention has been applied, the partsbeing disclosed in the stay-retaining position;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view like Fig; 1 but showing the parts in thestay-removing position;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the planeof the .line 33 of Fig. 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view like Figure 1 but showing a modificationof theinven'ti'on; and

Figure 5 is a view like Figure 4 but showing a further modification;

Referring: specifically" to the drawing, wherein likereference?charactersdesignate like parts in all views and referring atfirst to thespecies ofinvention illustrated in Figures l-3'inclusive,10i designates generally any suitable head covering such asa'cap which includes a crown 11 and anendles side wall .12. A sweatband.13 includes a free upper edge 14 and a lower edge 15 which is hinged tothe side wall 12. by any suitable hinge-providing means such as the lineof stitching 16; Thus, the sweatband13" is readily swingable from theupright position of Figure 1 to the downwardly extending position ofFigure 2. As so far described, the structure is. conventional and formsno part of my invention.

In this form of the invention, the crown 11 is provided with' the.usualdepending, hem 1'7"by which the crown is attached to the sidewall51'2 by any suitable means such as the line ofstitching18.Circumferentially spaced tabs 19 whichflmay be integral with the hem 17extend downwardly alongside wall 12 inwardly of the latter. Any suitablelaterally spaced means such as the vertical lines ofstitching 20 connectthe side edges of the tabs 19 to the side wall 12 to provide invertedpockets which slidably seat the upper ends of stiffening stays 21. Eachof the stays 21 has a length correspondingsubstantially to the distancebetween the crown ltl'and the hinge means 16. Thus, the lower ends ofthe stays 21 heat on the hinge-providing means 16 between the sweatband13 and the side wall 12 whereby sweatband 13 and. hinge 16 compriseholding means detachably securing the lower ends of stays. 21. Suchholding means is operative to retain the upper ends of the stays 21 inthe inverted pockets of the tabs 19 so as to supportthe crown 11;

When. the head'covering 10' i to be laundered, the sweatband is'turnedto thedepending position of Figure 2. Whentheslightlyilxiblestays 21 may be bent outwardly to vclearthe sweatband andthereafter are slid outwardly ofthe pockets. They arereplaced, ofcourse, by a reversed operation.

Figure 4 illustrates a modified species of the invention.In.this.species, the cap 3.0. has ,a.cr own 31, side wall 32 and aswea-tband..13... The crown 31 includes. anintegral annular flange 37which replaces ,the ,hem17 and which is securednear its uppermargin tothe side wall 32by a line of stitching 3% so as to provide aifree loweredge 39'. Invertedpockets.areformedin the flange 37' by securinglaterally spaced-portions thereof to the side wall. 32 by any.

suitable .meanssuch asrthev metalor plastic eyelets 40 which provide aseries Ofspaced vents inthe upperarea of:.the.head.covering;. Stays 41.are applied to, securedin and removed fromsuchlinverted pockets in thesame-mam ner as in the first described form of the invention. should beunderstood that the eyelets or like vent-providingmeans 40' may,if'desired, be substitutedfor-thestitching, 20: of 1116381366168. ofFigs.-- 1+3.

Figure.;5;iillustrates-1 a further; speciesz of, the invention whereinthe head:coveringjmincludes. a crown 51; side 3 wall 52 and a sweatband53. The sweatband 53 has a generally free upper edge 54 and a lower edge55 which is secured to the side wall 52 in any suitable manner as by thestitching 56. As in the species of Fig. 4, the crown 51 has an annulardepending flange 57 lying along the inner face of side wall 52 andsecured thereto at its upper edge by stitching or the like 58. Flange 57has a free lower edge 59 and pockets for stays 61 are formed therein bycircumferentially spaced pairs of laterally spaced, vent-providing sewneyelets 60 the stitches of which extend through the side wall 52. Also,in this form of the invention, upright pockets are formed in thesweatband 53 by circumferentially spaced pairs of laterally spaced linesof stitching 62 securing the sweatband to the side wall 52. The pocketsthus formed are vertically aligned with the inverted pockets of theflange 57 and receive the lower ends of the stays 61 therein.

The operation of this form of the invention differs from thosepreviously described in that the sweatband is not free to be swung tothe depending position because of the pocket forming lines of stitching62. Hence, to remove or apply the slightly flexible stays 61 it isnecessary to bow them as illustrated in broken lines in Fig. to bringthe upper and lower ends close enough together to clear the free edgesof the flange 57 and sweatband 53.

It is obvious from the foregoing that in any form of the invention thestays are secured in position against accidental displacement yet arereadily removable and replaceable when the need arises without the useof separate fasteners or stitching. Likewise, it is apparent that thelightest cap material may be used and still be maintained in a propershape.

In each of the forms illustrated, four stays have been used, onecentrally of each side (only one being illustrated) and one centrally ofthe front and rear. Obviously, the exact number and location of thestays is not critical and the use of more or less stays at differentlocations is contemplated.

Moreover, while I have shown and described what are now thought to bethe preferred embodiments of the invention, it should be understood thatthe same is susceptible of other forms and expressions. Consequently, itis not my intention to limit the invention to the precise structuresshown and described hereinabove except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In a head covering including a crown piece and a substantiallycylindrical side wall secured thereto concentrically thereof anddepending therefrom, a sweatband having a free upper edge and a loweredge, hingeproviding means hingedly securing said lower edge of saidsweatband to said side wall concentrically of the latter; theimprovement comprising means providing at least one inverted pocketfixed to said side wall and extending downwardly from said crown piece,said pocket having an open mouth, said mouth being located in verticallyspaced relation to said crown piece and to said free upper edge of saidsweatband, a stiffening stay having a length coextensive with thedistance between said hinge-providing means and said crown piece, saidstay having an upper end seated in said pocket and a lower end bearingon said hinge-providing means to retain said stay in said pocket.

2. A head covering according to claim 1 wherein said pocket comprises atab integral with said crown piece and depending therefrom, and said tabhaving opposite side edges secured to said side wall.

3. A head covering according to claim 1, wherein said pocket comprisesan integral downward extension of said crown piece.

4. A head covering according to claim 1, there being an annular flangeintegral with said crown piece and depending therefrom and laterallyspaced means securing said flange to said side wall to form said pocket.

5. In a head covering including a crown, an endless side wall dependingtherefrom concentrically thereof, and a sweatband having a free upperedge and a lower edge secured to said side wall; the improvementcomprising an annular flange integral with said crown and dependingtherefrom along said side wall inwardly of the latter, means formingcircumferentially spaced inverted pockets in said flange, said pocketseach having a mouth in vertically spaced relation to said crown and tosaid free upper edge of said sweatband, stiflening stays each having alength coextensive with the distance between said crown and said securedlower edge of said sweatband and having upper ends seated in saidpockets, means forming circumferentially spaced upright pockets in saidsweatband, and each of said upright pockets being vertically alignedwith one of said inverted pockets and receiving said lower end of a staytherein.

6. In a head covering including a crown, an endless side wall dependingtherefrom concentrically thereof, and a sweatband having a free upperedge and a lower edge, hinge means hingedly securing said lower edge ofsaid sweatband to said side wall; the improvement comprising pocketforming means providing a series of circumferentially spaced invertedpockets connected to and extending downwardly from said crown along saidside wall inwardly of the latter, said pockets being vertically spacedfrom said upper edge of said sweatband, said pockets each having a mouthin downwardly spaced relation to said crown, a plurality of stiffeningstays, said stays having upper ends seated in said pockets and saidstays having lower ends bearing on said hinge means between saidsweatband and said side wall whereby to releasably retain said upperends in said pockets so as to support said crown.

7. A head covering according to claim 6, wherein said pocket-formingmeans comprises flexible sheet means overlying said side wall inwardlythereof in the region of said crown, and laterally spaced pairs ofventilating eyelets connecting said sheet means to said side wall.

8'. A head covering according to claim 6, wherein said crown includescircumferentially spaced depending tabs comprising said means providingsaid pockets.

9. A head covering according to claim 6, wherein said crown includes anintegral annular depending flange, said flange having laterally spacedportions, and spaced means securing said laterally spaced portions ofsaid flange to said side wall to provide said pockets.

10. A head covering according to claim 6, wherein said sweatband isformed to provide upright pockets in vertically aligned relation to saidinverted pockets, said lower ends of said stays being received in saidupright pockets.

11. A head covering according to claim 9, there being laterally spacedportions of said sweatband, and spaced means securing said laterallyspaced portions of said sweatband to said side wall to provide acircumferential series of spaced upright pockets, there being an uprightpocket in vertical alignment with each inverted pocket, and said lowerends of said stays being slidably seated in said upright pockets.

12. In a head covering including a crown and an endless side walldepending therefrom concentrically thereof; the improvement comprisingflexible sheet means extending downwardly from said crown along saidside wall inwardly of the latter said sheet means including at least apair of laterally spaced portions, laterally spaced ventproviding meanssecuring said laterally spaced portions of said sheet means to said sidewall to provide an inverted pocket, said sheet means having a free loweredge portion between said spaced portions which defines a mouth for saidinverted pocket, a stiifening stay having an upper end slidably seatedin said pocket, holding means on said side wall in downwardly spacedrelation to said pocket, and said stay having a lower end in readilyreleasable engagement with said holding means whereby to retain saidupper end of said stay in said pocket.

13. A head covering according to claim 12, wherein said sheet meanscomprises a tab disposed along said side wall in the region of saidcrown.

14. A head covering according to claim 12, wherein said sheet meanscomprises a flange integral with said crown and depending therefrom.

15. A head covering according to claim 12, wherein said sheet meanscomprises a flange integral with said crown and depending therefrom, andwherein said holding means comprises a sweatband hinged to said sidewall.

16. A head covering according to claim 12, wherein said sheet meanscomprises a flange integral with said 6 crown and depending therefrom,wherein said holding means comprises a sweatband hinged to said sidewall, and therebeing an upright pocket in said sweatband in verticalalignment with said inverted pocket, said upright pocket seating saidlower end of said stay.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,506,815 Cormay Sept. 2, 1924 1,659,068 Aldrich Feb. 14, 1928 2,034,897Crane Mar. 24, 1936 2,307,713 Sullivan Jan. 5, 1943 2,701,366 OberrenderFeb. 8, 1955

